Chicago Cubs: Five trades that could have created a dynasty

Chicago Cubs: This swing would have played in 2018

A deal with the our friendly trade partners, the Orioles, could have netted us Manny Machado in 2018 (and possibly even in 2017 as well). Granted, you may not care for the guy or even the way he plays, but I’d venture a guess that you like him a fair bit more than Russell now. Point taken?

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

Machado, dealt to the Dodgers at the deadline in 2018, produced 6.2 fWAR for the season, and propelled the Dodgers to the World Series that season. Russell produced 1.4 fWAR for the season and ended up suspended for 40 games (partially in September of 2018 and finished in 2019) under MLB’s domestic violence policy.

What makes all this worse is what we’ve already pointed out- the fact that this trade supposedly was discussed and could have happened at some point, although no one knows how serious either side was in the talks. It was, however, serious enough for The Athletic and Ken Rosenthal to write about a possible trade at that time.

And while Machado may have only been had for a year or partial year, the added production in 2018 coupled with the jettisoning of Russell would have saved every fan some grief and shame. Who knows- the Russell situation also could have been hanging over the players and clubhouse for the last two seasons in some way, shape, or form- draining the passion and energy that the Castellanos trade seemed to bring back last August.